new car dilemma

jaimel134

Hello,
Looking for advice and thoughts on my situation.
Collected my new car on the 18th March. The next day it developed a fault and had to go back into dealer. The car has not been returned since, originally the part needed was not available and then the current situation and lockdown. I appreciate the current situation is no ones fault but I am looking to see how others would handle this situation.
A few of our concerns and issues.
We have paid for the car since and also insurance. 
The dealer gave us a courtesy car. I was the only one insured on vehicle as we assumed it would be in and out. This has meant leaving the wife with my works vehicle in case of any emergencies. She has not been able to go anywhere during this period, food shop etc. I have remained working so have had to use the courtesy car everyday instead of works vehicle. 
Our new car has been left sat unused for this period of time, approaching 10 weeks.
The car was a new reg, this is now 3 months old.
Many thanks 

AdrianC

It's unfortunate, and it's been inconvenient, but parts supply in the covid pandemic is very likely to be the issue here.

The part was ordered on Thursday 19th March.
The UK went into lockdown on Monday 23rd March, and the dealership will likely have closed.
If the part was not in UK stock, but coming from another country (either the country of manufacture or the importer's main European distribution centre), there may already have been a lockdown in place there.
The vehicle is not required for "key-worker" duties. You may be a key worker, but you have a vehicle for those duties. You are choosing to leave that at home and use the courtesy car (is it insured?) for your work, for the convenience of somebody who is not a key-worker.

I'm not sure what you're expecting anybody to have been able to do... but the situation may resolve itself soon as lockdowns are released.

JamoLew

Have you asked to extend the insurance on the  courtesy car to also include your wife ?

jaimel134

I had to make the choice to leave my company vehicle home as this is the only vehicle she is insured on (over 25 insurance) It’s a van so not practical especially with young children, but this was my only option to ensure there is a vehicle at home whilst I’m at work, which is not local.
We would have put the wife on the insurance but they had an issue doing so and needed DVLA contact which is not possible during this time. 

jaimel134

This all stems from the issue with the vehicle and the fault the day after collecting. The dealership wouldn’t even take it back in to look at as they were too busy. I had to get road side assistance out who then had the authority to get the vehicle back into dealership.

k3lvc

jaimel134 said:

This all stems from the issue with the vehicle and the fault the day after collecting. The dealership wouldn’t even take it back in to look at as they were too busy. I had to get road side assistance out who then had the authority to get the vehicle back into dealership.

That may be 'an' issue - the main one is your lack of pro-activity in sorting out alternative insurance. If the dealership is closed/can't help then escalate via social media to ask them to add your wife. Alternatively you should have the paperwork and you can contact the insurance company directly and ask them how to do it. There may be a short term cost but look at recouping that from the dealer when this is over 

jimmo

Is your new car that is at the dealership insured for both you and your wife to drive?

My certificate of insurance (LV)says "Comprehensive cover will apply to any car loaned or hired to the policy holder by a member of the motor trade while the vehicle specified above is in the custody of the motor trade for service, repair or MOT."

Does yours?

jaimel134

Yes is insured for both fully comp.
Thanks
I will check this.

sheramber

But does it cover the named driver to drive other cars as well as the policy holder? Not all policies do.
 

jimmo

sheramber said:

But does it cover the named driver to drive other cars as well as the policy holder? Not all policies do.
 

Two entirely different things.

The clause I quoted above is claus1(b) in my certificate of Insurance and covers a courtesy car as if it was my own.

Clause 5 ( Persons or classes of persons entitled to drive) includes a paragraph which says the policy holder only may drive other peoples cars. As a side note it also stresses that only the policy holder is covered and the cover is third party only.

I don't know about anyone else but there is no way I would drive someone else's car worth thousands with third party only cover.

jaimel134

So I went down to pick up the car today after having a surprise call to say it’s ready. They brought the car out and it was in a horrendous state. Two foot long scratches over bonnet, all scratch marks over wheel arch and many other scratches elsewhere. The car went in with about 100 miles and was 48 hours old.
Told then so sort it but now losing all faith.